Hame-fastener



(N0 Model.)

J. H. SNYDER. HAME FASTBNER.

Patented Aug. 9

r Z W a 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. SNYDER, OF FRUITPORT, MICHIGAN.

HAM E-JFASTEN'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,633, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filcd Ncvember 18, 1891. fierial No. 412.342. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may cancer-n.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fruitport,

enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in metallic hame-straps, the object thereof being to provide strong and simple hame-securing means provided with a secure and easily-manipulated fastening, which will be durable, inexpensive, and of great practical utility; and the invention therefore consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved hame-fastener having its parts locked together by the locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the locking device with its parts drawn out of gear and ready for uncoupling. Fig. 4 is also a side view of the locking mechanism, showing movable part thereof lifted into the position which it is caused to assume for the purpose of disengaging it from the hame-chain. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line x a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the lever, which forms a part of the locking mechanism.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different figures of the drawings.

A designates a metallic chain composed of suitably-shaped flat links. This chain A is provided at one end with a hook a, adapted to engage with one of the hames.

B represents another similar hook, which is adapted to engage the other hame. I lay no particular stress upon the form or construction of the hooks a or B or the chain A, as they may vary considerably without departing from my invention, which relates more particularly to the locking mechanism and is equally applicable to chain A and other chains, straps, or fasteners commonly used in connection with hames.

Connected to the hook B is a rectangularshaped link 0, which serves as a support or parts of the fastening device, said supporting link or wire frame 0 having one endthat next to chain Abent at a right angle, as shown particularly in Figs.3 and 5, to provide the cross part D, which serves as a fulcrum for the lever E.

The lever E, which is an essential part of the locking device, is shown in detail in Fig. 6. It consists of apiece of wire bent double to form at the bending-point an eye 6, and at the opposite end of the lever a slot e of suitable length between the parallel end portions of the wire, it being particularly noted that the remaining parallel portions of the wire between the slot 6 and the eye 6' are bent so as to lie in close solid contact with each other. The wire ends of lever E, adjacent to slot e, are bent loosely about the transverse fulcrum part D, so that in this way lever E is movably mounted and free to be swung in one direction or the other, so as to occupy either the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, where it lies substantially parallel with the support 0, or the position shown in Fig. 4, where it is substantially at right angles to the support 0.

F designates an elongated tongue consistin g, preferably, of a suitable length of metallicwire, This tongue F is arranged in connection with the lever E. It is bent at one end at an angle to provide a handle F, by which it can be grasped for the purpose of being slid back and forth or lifted or depressed. The opposite end of tongue F is bent back upon itself or doubled, so that it can embrace the fulcrum D between the looped wire ends of lever E, and so that its bent ends F may enter the slots 6 in the lever E and havea freedom of movement therein and be guided thereby. It is also to be particularly observed that the tongue F passes through the eye e and is permitted to slide therein when desired. Thus by grasping the handle F of tongue F the latter can be placed in the position shown in Figs. land frame for the arrangement therewith of the 2, in which the handle end of the tongue bears upon a part of the hook B, while the opposite end of the tongue bears upon the first link in the chain A, or the tongue may be slid into the 5 position shown in Fig. 3, where the end of the tongue does not hear at all upon the first link of the chain, and when the locking parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3it will be readily seen that the tongue and lever may be lifted Id from their positions of parallelism with support 0 into the position shown in Fig. 1,

where they are at right angles to the support,

I and when in this position the 'first link of chain A can be readily slipped off from parts E and F, it it is desired to unlock the chain,

or can be readily placed thereon if the desire be to lock the parts of the chain together.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be understood that they are securely fastened together and that the parts cannot loosen or become disengaged from each other.

The eye 6' of lever E is made of such proper size that the tongue which is inserted therethrough will fit tight enough to be held from slipping back or becoming displaced when the fastening has been locked. The

forward end of the tongue is also made to fit snugly and tightly over the fulcrum D, as also between the upper wire ends of lever E.

My improved locking mechanism will be hocks a and B, of the elongated link-shaped supports 0, having one end bent at an angle to provide the fulcrum D, the lever E, having eye e and slot e, and the tongue F, having 5 handle F and bent end E, which enters slot 6, substantially as described.

2. In a hame-fastener, the strap A, having hook a the hook B, the link 0, having the right-angled end D engaged by one of the 5c links of strap A, said supporting-links C being engaged with the hook B, the lever E, having eye e and slot 6 and mounted on fulcrum-support D, and the tongue F, carried in eye e, and having its end bent to embrace the fulcrum D, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN H. SNYDER.

Witnesses:

SANFORD H. WA'rsoN, KATE MOSHANNOCK. 

